These people can help you live more simply, shake off insecurities, and be a better mother to your kids.

When I was suffering from postpartum depression, I sought solace in the Christian mystics as a way to find language for my own intense emotions. I live in an intentional community on a farm — a lifestyle that can feel radical at times. Because the Christian mystics often seem to linger on the fringes of society, religion — and sometimes even emotional health — they have given me perspective on my life and experiences. Here are five things I’ve learned from these mostly single and cloistered mystics about being a mother and caring for my family and community: